Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service: FAQs

The service begins at 6:30 pm (doors open from 5:15 pm, to be seated by 6.15 pm) and lasts one hour. 

Westminster Abbey is an accessible venue – please refer to their accessibility features and click the following link: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/plan-your-visit/access-facilities-and-faq/

There is no parking available on site.  We strongly encourage guests to use public transportation. Nearby parking is available by clicking the following link: https://www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/cities/london/poi/westminster-abbey/

Children are allowed but the Abbey typically don’t advise children under 6 attend. All children must have their own seat and be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. 

• Dress Code: Smart (no hats)
• Decorations and medals may be worn
• National dress is optional for international guests
• Uniformed nurses and midwives in the processions to wear uniform
• Uniform for nurses and midwives not in the procession is optional

Each year we send invitations to over 1500 invited guests. These include Nursing and Midwifery VIPs, recently graduated FNF Scholars and participants on some FNF leadership programmes, FNF Academy Members and other stakeholder and supporter groups. In addition, each year we release limited public tickets, allocated on a first come first served basis, to anyone who would like to attend (see question below on ‘extra tickets’ for more details on the public tickets).

Invited guests: Invitations were sent out by email on 24 February.

Members of the Public: The first wave of public tickets will be released in early March, with a further wave of tickets released later in March. A maximum of two tickets can be requested. If you would like to book two public tickets, please be ready with the name and email address of your guest when booking. 

Find out more about the public tickets here.

The Florence Nightingale Foundation depends on your generous support to continue our vital work.  If you feel able, we would be grateful for your donation. Your kindness helps us inspire and develop the future nurse and midwife leaders who will stay, lead, thrive and transform health and care for generations to come – carrying forward Florence Nightingale’s legacy.

Please kindly click this link to make a donation

Invited Guests:

Some invited guests (for instance some of our larger FNF member organisations) are allocated more than one ticket. If you have been allocated more than one ticket you will see an additional screen after you submit your RSVP, requesting the names and email addresses of any guests you would like to invite.

If you have not been allocated additional tickets, or if you require more than your allocated number of tickets, we do have limited public tickets available that you can apply for. Information on this will be available on our website and news of when they go live will be shared first via our newsletter (see below). Please note that all those attending are allocated seating areas depending on their ticket – those with public tickets will have a separate section so you will not be able to sit with someone who has a different type of ticket to you.

Members of the Public:

We have a limited number of tickets available that will be released at 9.30am GMT on 5 March and then a second batch later in March (a maximum of two tickets per person.).  We release these on a first come first service basis and we will turn off the ticketing link when tickets are sold out. Find out more about public tickets here.

If you would like to request two tickets, please be ready with the name and email address of your guest when booking. 

Most of our invitations are non-transferrable. The only exception is when a named member is unable to attend, they may transfer their invitation to someone else at their organisation.

Once an actual ticket has been issued this is non transferrable.

Yes, once you have confirmed your attendance you will be sent a link to manage your booking. By following this link you will be able to update your details or cancel your attendance.

If you were allocated additional guest tickets (this only applies to some invitees) you can manage your ticket allocations from the Manage your RSVP link.  

Most people will receive electronic tickets in the week commencing 27 April. There are a small number of guests seated in certain seating areas who will require physical tickets which will be sent out in advance in the post. We will update this page when we know when we will be posting these physical tickets.

Please note that all tickets are named and cannot be transferred.  

You can take photos in the Abbey before and after the service but not during it.

An official Abbey photographer will be present at the event, capturing moments throughout the Service. We will share the photos with you after the event.